Clinker Cooling Equipment
The workhorse of modern cement clinker cooling — a reciprocating-grate cooler that rapidly quenches hot clinker from 1,400°C while recovering ≥72% of its heat as secondary combustion air. With capacities from 600 to 10,000 t/d, the grate cooler is essential for fuel-efficient, high-quality clinker production.
Product Overview
The grate cooler is the clinker cooling equipment installed at the discharge end of the rotary kiln. Hot clinker nodules (1,300–1,400°C) fall from the kiln onto a moving grate, where a powerful stream of cold air is blown upward through the clinker bed. The air cools the clinker to below 100°C — safe for conveyor transport and cement grinding — while itself being heated to 1,000–1,200°C and routed back as secondary air to the kiln burner and tertiary air duct.
This heat recovery is what makes the grate cooler indispensable: by returning hot combustion air to the kiln, it directly reduces the fuel the kiln burner must supply. A well-designed reciprocating grate cooler recovers 72% or more of the clinker's heat, contributing to the lowest possible heat consumption per kilogram of clinker in modern NSP lines.
Rapid cooling also preserves clinker quality. Fast quenching "freezes" the high-temperature mineral phases (C₃S, C₂S) and prevents unwanted belite conversion, producing harder, more grindable clinker with better cement strength. LIMING Machinery manufactures reciprocating, travelling, and rotary grate coolers covering 600 to 10,000 TPD.
Classification
Grate coolers are classified by the mechanism that moves clinker across the grate.
The modern standard for NSP cement lines. Stationary grate rows alternate with reciprocating rows that push clinker forward. Excellent heat recovery (≥72%), stable operation, and high capacity — suitable for 600 to 10,000 TPD lines.
Uses a continuously moving grate chain to transport clinker. Older design suited to smaller or retrofit lines. Simpler mechanics but slightly lower heat recovery than reciprocating types.
A rotating drum cooler (similar to a small rotary kiln) used for special applications and smaller capacities. Less common in modern large cement plants but useful for certain lime and specialty clinker processes.
Key Benefits
Engineered for high heat recovery, rapid clinker quenching, and reliable continuous duty.
Optimized clinker-bed thickness and air distribution recover 72% or more of clinker heat as hot secondary air (up to 1,200°C), directly reducing kiln fuel consumption and lowering overall heat consumption per tonne of clinker.
Intense cold-air flow quenches clinker from 1,400°C to below 100°C within minutes, preserving the desired C₃S/C₂S mineralogy, preventing belite conversion, and producing harder, more grindable clinker with better cement strength.
Hydraulic or mechanical reciprocating drive with frequency-controlled grate speed adjusts clinker residence time to match kiln output. Sealed air chambers prevent short-circuiting and ensure uniform air distribution.
Heat-resistant cast-steel grate plates (LIMING supplies genuine grate cooler plates) withstand 1,400°C clinker and abrasion, ensuring long service life and minimal unplanned downtime.
Technical Data
Select a model based on your daily clinker output. LIMING customizes grate area, drive type, and air distribution for each project.
| Model | Capacity (t/d) | Grate Area (m²) | Heat Recovery | Clinker Out Temp (°C) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC-600 | 600 | 12 | ≥70% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-1000 | 1,000 | 18 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-1500 | 1,500 | 26 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-2000 | 2,000 | 34 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-2500 | 2,500 | 42 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-3000 | 3,000 | 52 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-4000 | 4,000 | 68 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-5000 | 5,000 | 86 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-6000 | 6,000 | 104 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-8000 | 8,000 | 140 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
| GC-10000 | 10,000 | 178 | ≥72% | ≤100 | Reciprocating |
* Specifications are for reference only. Actual performance depends on clinker properties and kiln output. Contact LIMING for model selection.
How It Works
The grate cooler operates on the principle of cross-flow convective heat exchange. Hot clinker moves horizontally across a grate while cold air is blown vertically upward through the clinker bed — the two flows transfer heat rapidly and efficiently:
Frequently Asked Questions